ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill remembers former coach Jim Hanifan

Nov 26, 2020, 9:17 AM | Updated: 9:23 am

FILE - In this Jan. 8, 1983, file photo, St. Louis Cardinals coach Jim Hanifan, left, and Green Bay...

FILE - In this Jan. 8, 1983, file photo, St. Louis Cardinals coach Jim Hanifan, left, and Green Bay Packers coach Bart Starr meet after the Packers' 41-16 victory in an NFL football playoff game in Green Bay, Wis. Hanifan, the former Cardinals coach who returned to the city as offensive line coach to help the Rams win the Super Bowl, has died. He was 87. Hanifan's daughter, Kathy Hinder, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he died Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2020. She said the cause of death hasn't been determined, but said it wasn't related to COVID-19. (AP Photo/Tom Lynn, File)

(AP Photo/Tom Lynn, File)

Tributes poured in this week across the NFL for former Cardinals head coach Jim Hanifan, who passed away at the age of 87 on Tuesday.

Hanifan served as the head coach of the St. Louis Cardinals from 1980-85 and previously served as the team’s offensive line coach from 1973-78.

His six-year tenure with the franchise is tied with Ken Whisenhunt and Jimmy Conzelman for the longest in Cardinals’ history, with Hanifan going 39-49-1 during his tenure running the team.

Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill recognized Hanifan as a great football coach and a better human being in a statement on Thursday.

“Jim Hanifan was a great football coach but an even better man and mentor to many men and women around the game of football,” Bidwill’s statement said. “On the field, he was known as one of the greatest teachers of offensive line play the game has ever seen.

“He’ll also be remembered as one of its all-time best story tellers. He was a friend to so many and meant so much to our family. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and all of those fortunate enough to cross paths with Jim, a true original who will never be forgotten.”

Former St. Louis Cardinals and New York Giants running back Otis “OJ” Anderson was one of many to remember Hanifan on Twitter on Wednesday night.

Fellow NFL coaches, like Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera, shared memories of their time spent with Hanifan, remembering the former Cardinals and Falcons head coach as a legend in the sport.

Hanifan was an All-American at the University of California-Berkeley, later getting inducted into the school’s hall of fame.

The Compton, Calif. native closed out his coaching career in his adopted home city of St. Louis, where he worked as an offensive line coach with the Rams between 1997-02.

He was on the staff of the Rams’ Super Bowl XXXIV victory over the Tennessee Titans in 2000, serving under then-head coach Dick Vermeil.

Hanifan later served as a color commentator for Rams games on the radio from 2004-08 before moving into an analyst role from 2009-11.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

1 day ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

2 days ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

3 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

3 days ago

Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill remembers former coach Jim Hanifan